Introduction
Located at 375 S. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215, the Environmental Division of the Franklin County Municipal Court (“Environmental Court”) represents a specialized judicial forum aimed at adjudicating matters that affect the quality of life, public safety, and environmental health of local communities.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at what this court is, what types of cases it handles, why it matters to the community, and how residents can engage with its work.
Jurisdiction
Under Ohio law (specifically Ohio Revised Code Section 1901.183), an environmental division of a municipal court is granted additional jurisdiction:
- It may hear civil actions for enforcement of environmental laws, building, housing, health, fire, zoning codes, etc.
- It may act similarly to a court of common pleas in certain enforcement roles (e.g., foreclosure of liens, injunctions) when the case involves violations of environmental or safety regulations
- In other words, although this is a municipal court division, its authority in environmental/housing/quality-of-life matters is fairly broad
In terms of geography, the court covers all of Franklin County, including City of Columbus and the various municipalities and townships within the county.
What does that mean? If a property in Columbus (or a township in Franklin County) is violating housing/zoning/waste/environmental safety codes, the Environmental Court may be the appropriate forum.
What kinds of cases are heard
The Environmental Court handles a wide variety of matters:
Housing, Zoning, & Building-Related Cases
- Housing code violations brought by city code enforcement (for example, residential properties in disrepair or with hazardous conditions)
- Zoning code violations: unpermitted additions, illegal signage, businesses operating without proper licenses, activities prohibited in certain zones
- Nuisance declarations under ORC 3767 involving properties (residences or businesses) where illegal or dangerous activity is occurring
Environmental Safety & Waste-Related Cases
- Illegal dumping, littering, solid waste/refuse cases within Columbus and Franklin County. These may be criminal violations
- Health code violations: mosquito/rat harborage, junk accumulation, improper sewage, food safety issues
- Fire code violations: brought by fire department or police for fire-safety hazards
- Animal/Wildlife violations: licensing, cruelty, wild animals, hunting/boating/fishing violations when those codes apply
In addition, the court hears civil actions for nuisance properties, appeals of administrative decisions, and so forth, in its environmental division role.
How the process works (in broad strokes)
While every case differs, here’s a simplified view of how someone might interact with or be affected by the Environmental Court:
- Detection or complaint – A code enforcement officer, refuse inspector, health department, sheriff’s environmental crimes unit, or other agency identifies a potential violation (e.g., illegal dumping, excessive rubbish, housing code violation)
- Case filing – The case is brought to the Environmental Court. Depending on the nature of the violation, it could be a criminal code violation (e.g., illegal dumping) or a civil action (e.g., nuisance abatement)
- Hearing/adjudication – The court hears the matter. For housing or property-maintenance violations, owners may be required to remediate, or face fines, injunctions, liens. For criminal violations (dumping, etc.) there may be fines or other consequences
- Enforcement and follow-up – The court has authority to issue orders (including injunctions) and to marshal enforcement mechanisms. Because of its broader jurisdiction, it can act similarly to a higher court in some cases (e.g., foreclose liens)
What residents and property owners should know
- If you are a property owner, you should be aware that code violations may lead to action in this court, with potentially significant consequences (fines, orders to repair or clean up, liens, etc.)
- Because the court has a large monthly caseload and covers many violation types, timely response and remediation at the early stages is advisable if you receive notice of a hearing or violation
- If you are contacted by anyone related to an Environmental Court matter, you should immediately contact an attorney
Conclusion
The Environmental Division of the Franklin County Municipal Court focuses on housing, zoning, waste, health, and environmental safety issues. If you are faced with an action in the Environmental Court, it is crucial that you immediately contact legal counsel to assist you through the process. Contact this office at (614) 363-3500 to learn more about the Environmental Court.
